Sample Foundations 1: Preparation for Christ

Sample
Foundations 1:
Preparation for Christ
Homeschooling Bible Curriculum
by Anne Elliott
Foundations Press
W629 N. 2nd Street
Spring Valley, WI 54767
http://FoundationsPress.com
Foundations 1: Preparation for Christ
Copyright 2004 by Anne Elliott
Second Edition, Copyright 2006 by Anne Elliott
Third Edition, Copyright 2008 by Anne Elliott
Fourth Edition, Copyright 2013 by Anne Elliott
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever
without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or
reviews. You do have permission to photocopy the book for your own personal use. You may
select individual pages to copy, or you may copy the entire book! It is up to you how much of the
information you want to copy and for how many children in your family you want to use it. You
can copy this book for use in your immediate family only; redistributing the book to other families
is strictly prohibited.
“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them”
(Matthew 7:12).
Published by
Foundations Press
W629 N. 2nd Street
Spring Valley, WI 54767
http://www.FoundationsPress.com
Email: [email protected]
Printed by lulu.com in the United States of America
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Table of Contents
Introduction
p. 9
Helpful Materials
p. 13
Weekly Lessons & Notes
p. 14
Appendix A: Tips for Bible Memory
p. 87
Appendix B: Additional Memory Verses
p. 91
Note to Parents:
If you ever have questions or comments about the use of this book, please know that you are
welcome to write to its author, Anne Elliott, by visiting her website at
http://www.FoundationsPress.com.
All links referenced in this book worked accurately when checked on May 5, 2013. Please notify us
if any link does not work so that we may update it in future editions. Supervise children’s use of the
Internet.
THE GOLDEN RULE OF INTERPRETATION
When the plain sense of Scripture makes common sense, seek no other sense; therefore, take every
word at its primary, ordinary, usual, literal meaning unless the facts of the immediate context,
studied in the light of related passages and axiomatic and fundamental truths, indicate otherwise.
-- D.L. Cooper
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Introduction
Welcome to Foundations 1: Preparation for Christ! We have been praying that this study of
God’s Word will draw you closer to Him and give your children the spiritual foundations they need
for life.
Objectives:
We compiled this book with several objectives in mind:
1. To give our children a firm understanding of the chronological flow of the Bible so that
later study of the Bible would have a framework in which to fit.
2. To give our children a firm understanding of why Christ came to earth, by first learning
of their need for a Savior as presented in the Old Testament.
3. To give our children a rich heritage of Scripture memory, for the Bible says, “Thy word
have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee” (Psalm 119:11).
4. To help our children learn to navigate God’s Word easily, by frequent use of their Bibles.
5. To help our children learn to understand the language of the Bible, by hearing it read
aloud to them each day and by learning to read and understand it for themselves.
A Typical Day of Bible:
We’d like to show you what a typical study of the Bible looks like in our home.
1. First, if we haven’t already done so, we start our day with prayer.
2. Now we work on learning the week’s Bible memory verse. You can read some of our
methods in Appendix A. Keep in mind that you might like your older children to learn
verses in addition to the ones we assign. See Appendix B for additional memory verses.
3. For the first part of the year, we also work on memorizing the books of the Bible. As we
recite them each day, even the older children who already know them will have a sound
review.
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4. Mom, or an older student, then reads the day’s Bible passage aloud. You may use the
Bible translation of your choice. We have even enjoyed reading from the Living Bible,
which isn’t a translation but is rather a paraphrase.
5. While Mom reads, our children enjoy coloring and/or doing Bible puzzles. We found an
excellent resource for these online, offered by Calvary Chapel at
http://www.calvarycurriculum.com/childrens-curriculum-ot.php. Their free website allows
you to download coloring pictures, worksheets and puzzles, but only for your own family’s
personal use. You may wish to look at them ahead of time (maybe each weekend) and only
print the ones your children would use. Our children tend to enjoy coloring through first
grade, then they tend to enjoy doing word searches and mazes. As they mature, they like to
try the fill-in-the-blank worksheets. Finally, many mothers have asked whether children can
effectively pay attention to what Mom is reading if they are busy coloring or filling in
worksheets. We’ve found that – at least in our home – they can! An easy way to check,
however, is simply to ask them to tell the story back to you when you’ve finished reading.
6. Often our book will suggest discussion questions and activities for you to do. You will
find many of the activities listed on the page after the lesson plans. The symbol  will alert
you to look there! Please feel free to add to or subtract from our suggestions, depending on
the needs and interests of your family.
7. Each Tuesday and Thursday, we like to have a “Bible Drill.” This is a game in which
children race each other to find passages of Scripture in their own Bibles. We urge you to
play this game often so your children will gain the essential skill of finding passages in
God’s Word quickly! You might want to wait until your children are old enough to read
fairly well on their own (typically 2nd or 3rd grade). At this age, we purchase a good-quality
Bible for our children, one which lies flat when opened.

To have a Bible Drill, have each child raise his Bible in the air, totally extending his
arm (it’s only fair). Have him hold his Bible by the back binding, with no fingers
poking into the pages to keep his place for him.

Mom announces the reference to be found (for instance, “Genesis 1:1”).

The children then repeat the reference orally, so that Mom is sure everyone knows
where to go.

Mom shouts, “Go!”

At this point, each child pulls his Bible down and begins searching for the Scripture
reference as quickly as possible.

The first child to find the reference stands. He then reads it out loud.
If one child always wins, simply because he is older, take heart! The less-experienced
children will quickly improve with frequent practice and a good dose of healthy
competition. However, you can add Dad to the game in the evenings for extra spice!
8. On Fridays, our notes suggest that your children write in their journals. Our children each
have a spiral or 3-ring notebook that is their Bible Journal. Once a week, they review what
they’ve learned that week by telling about it in their journal. Young ones might draw a
picture and have Mom write about it below. They might copy their memory verse. Older
ones might tell what they’ve learned in their private Bible reading. This journal will not
only provide a record of their education; it will also become a priceless treasure that helps to
cement God’s truth in their hearts.
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9. Each day lists an optional “Extra Reading” assignment for children who are older. This
assignment is intended to be read privately by the child. By following this schedule, your
child will read through the Old Testament in chronological order this year. If your student is
in high school, we strongly recommend having them write a “title” for each chapter in the
Old Testament, something that tells them briefly what the chapter is about. They could do
this directly in their Bibles, or in a separate notebook, or you could even purchase a special
Bible for this purpose, such as The New Inductive Study Bible.
10. Please be open to the Holy Spirit as you work through this book. Always be ready to
discuss important concepts with your children and answer their questions. We have added
notes and teaching ideas for some of the lessons but not all. (Note: these are all optional and
will vary in difficulty). If you come up with additional learning ideas, record them so that
you’ll remember them next time you cover this material. Ask God to make His Word
meaningful to each of your children.
This book is only the first in a series of three. Foundations 2: Christ Our Messiah covers the
Gospels and the book of Acts. Foundations 3: Christ Our Hope covers the remainder of the New
Testament and discusses important Bible doctrines and character qualities. When you finish
Foundations 3, go back to Foundations 1. Your children need the review, and you can always add
more memory verses or reading assignments for older children (see Appendix B).
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Helpful Materials
Books
The following is a list of books that could be read by your children, in addition to the assignments
we’ve included:









The New Bible in Pictures for Little Eyes, by Kenneth Taylor
Egermeier’s Bible Story Book
From God to Us – How We Got Our Bible, by Norman Geisler and William Nix
Joseph, by Brian Wildsmith
Exodus, by Brian Wildsmith
Adam and His Kin, by Ruth Beechick
Book of God, by Walter Wangerin, Jr.
The Bible Knowledge Commentary: Old Testament, edited by Walvoord and Zuck
The New Inductive Study Bible
We strongly recommend that you have access to a good Bible dictionary, so your family can look
up words that are difficult to understand or so you can add extra meaning to what you’re studying.
We recommend:
 The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary
 http://bible.crosswalk.com/Dictionaries/ if you would prefer to access a Bible dictionary
online
Other Materials
You may enjoy having the following:
 A box of Bible dress-up clothes, consisting of old bed sheets to be used as robes and
turbons, sandals, etc.
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Bible Time – Week 1
Memory Verse
Books of the Bible
Read the Bible
Monday
 illustrate

Ps. 119:116
Calvary Chapel*
Other Activities

Extra Reading
Gen. 1-6
Tuesday
 write

Gen. 1
Wednesday
 motions

Gen. 2
Thursday
 contests

Gen. 3
#1

Bible
drill
Gen. 712
#2

#4

Bible
drill
Gen. 1822
Gen. 13-17
Friday
 test

Gen. 4:116
#5

Journals
Job 1-4
Mom’s Notes:
Memory Verse:
2 Timothy 3:16-17 – “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for
reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect,
thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”
Say the Books of the Bible:
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Bible Drills:
Tuesday
 Genesis 1:1
 Genesis 3:15
 Exodus 1:8
 Exodus 11:3
 Leviticus 16:19
 Leviticus 23:2
 Numbers 9:2
 Numbers 20:8
 Deuteronomy 6:5
 Deuteronomy 10:12
Thursday
 Genesis 5:27
 Numbers 14:8
 Leviticus 1:3
 Exodus 19:5
 Deuteronomy 28:13
 Genesis 50:20
 Deuteronomy 26:15
 Numbers 2:2
 Exodus 3:2
 Leviticus 23:3
 This symbol means that you should check the next page for notes or activity suggestions.
* Download free activity pages from http://www.calvarycurriculum.com/childrens-curriculumot.php
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Week 1 – Notes:
Memory Verse: See tips for Bible memory in Appendix A.
Activities:
Monday –
 Today your family is going to discuss some important Bible facts. Have each child open
his Bible and take a look at the many things inside:





Table of Contents
Old Testament – How many books? Count them!
New Testament – How many books? Count them!
Chapter numbers and verse numbers
Footnotes, Appendices, and other helps.
God spoke to men called “prophets” the exact messages He wanted written down. Read
2 Peter 1:20-21 together. God wrote the Bible over 1,600 years. He used at least 40
different men to write His words down.
The Bible was written in three different languages: Hebrew (the Old Testament), Greek
(the New Testament), and Aramaic (small portions of the Old Testament).
Why should we study the Bible? How will it help us? Read Hebrews 4:12 together.
 Make a list of things you each want to learn from your study of the Old Testament this
year. Keep the lists in your Bible Journals.
 Older children could make a list of all the verbs used in Psalm 119:1-16.
Tuesday –
 Draw pictures illustrating what God did each day of creation week.
 Older children could discuss the meaning of the plural pronoun “us” used in Genesis
1:26.
Wednesday –
 Make a map of where the Garden of Eden may have been located, marking the rivers
mentioned in Genesis 2:8-14.
Thursday –
 Define the word “subtil” used in Genesis 3:1 (KJV)*.
 List the characteristics of the tree in Genesis 3:6. Compare with 1 John 2:15-16.
 Discuss the meaning of Genesis 3:15.
Friday –
 Discuss the meaning of Genesis 4:7.
*Our activities are based on the King James Version. If you’re using another translation of the
Bible, feel free to adapt these activities.
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Bible Time – Week 2
Calvary Chapel
Other Activities
Monday
 illustrate

 Gen.
4:17-5:32
 #6

Extra Reading
 Job 5-10
Memory Verse
Books of the Bible
Read the Bible
Tuesday
 write

 Gen.
5:28-6:22
 #7

 Bible
drill
 Job 1116
Wednesday
 motions

 Gen. 7
 #8

 Job 17-21
Thursday
 contests

 Gen.
8:1-9:19
 #9

 Bible
drill
 Job 2227
Friday
 test

 Gen. 11:19
 #10

 Journals
 Job 28-31
Mom’s Notes:
Memory Verse:
Exodus 20:1-3 “And God spake all these words, saying, I am the Lord thy God, which have
brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods
before me.”
Say the Books of the Bible:
Genesis
Joshua
Exodus
Judges
Leviticus
Ruth
Numbers
1 & 2 Samuel
Deuteronomy
1 & 2 Kings
1 & 2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Bible Drills:
Tuesday
 Joshua 1:8
 Judges 6:1
 Ruth 3:18
 1 Samuel 7:3
 2 Kings 22:2
 1 Chronicles 21:17
 2 Chronicles 7:5
 Ezra 3:11
 Nehemiah 4:6
 Esther 8:6
Thursday
 Genesis 1:26
 1 Chronicles 16:29
 Judges 20:16
 Leviticus 19:11
 Ruth 1:16
 Exodus 20:12
 2 Kings 2:11
 1 Samuel 17:37
 Nehemiah 8:8
 Numbers 14:41
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Week 2 - Notes:
Activities:
Monday –
 Make a timeline for the descendents of Seth listed in Genesis 5:3-32. Show when each
was born and how long he lived.
Tuesday –
 Figure out the dimensions of the ark if 1 cubit = 18 inches.
Wednesday –
 Using Monday’s timeline, show when the flood started. Save this timeline and add to it
when you’d like to as you continue to read in Genesis.
Thursday –
 On your timeline, show when the flood ended, when the waters receded, and when
everyone left the ark.
Friday –
 Read Genesis 10 and add the names to your timeline or make “Noah’s Family Tree.”
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Bible Time – Week 3
Calvary Chapel
Other Activities
Monday
 illustrate

Gen.
11:26-12:9
#11

Extra Reading
Job 32-35
Memory Verse
Books of the Bible
Read the Bible
Tuesday
 write

Gen.
12:10-13:1
#12

Bible
drill
Job 36-40
Wednesday
 motions

Gen. 13:118
#13

Thursday
 contests

Gen. 14
Friday
 test

Gen. 15-16
#14

Bible drill
#15

Journals
Job 41-42,
Gen. 23-24
Gen. 2528
Gen. 29-32
Mom’s Notes:
Memory Verse:
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven
above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth... Exodus 20:4
Say the Books of the Bible:
Genesis
Joshua
Exodus
Judges
Leviticus
Ruth
Numbers
1 & 2 Samuel
Deuteronomy
1 & 2 Kings
1 & 2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalms
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Bible Drills:
Tuesday
 Job 2:2
 Psalms 104:1
 Proverbs 11:13
 Ecclesiastes 10:18
 Song of Solomon 6:1
 Job 42:2
 Psalms 29:11
 Proverbs 3:27
 Ecclesiastes 3:1
 Song of Solomon 2:1
Thursday
 Job 19:25
 Ezra 7:10
 1 Kings 3:9
 Ecclesiastes 3:12
 Esther 4:14
 Joshua 24:15
 Exodus 32:26
 2 Chronicles 28:9
 2 Samuel 10:12
 Song of Solomon 8:7
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Week 3 - Notes:
Activities:
Monday –
 Read Genesis 11:10-32 and add these names to your list from Week 2, Friday.
Tuesday –
 Begin making a map of Abram’s travels.
 Discuss God’s covenant with Abram in Genesis 12:1-3, 7.
Wednesday –
 Add the cities mentioned in Genesis 13 to Monday’s map.
Thursday –
 Add the cities mentioned in Genesis 14 to your map.
 Read Hebrews 7 and discuss it in light of Genesis 14:18-24. Note: The Levitical priests
will be discussed in Exodus, Week 11 and after.
Friday –
 Discuss God’s promises to Abram in Genesis 15.
 Discuss God’s promises to Hagar in Genesis 16:10-12.
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Bible Time – Week 4
Memory Verse
Books of the Bible
Read the Bible
Calvary Chapel
Other Activities
Extra Reading
Monday
 illustrate

Gen.
17:1-18:15
#16

Gen. 3338
Tuesday
 write

Gen.
18:16-33
#17

Bible
drill
Gen. 3942
Wednesday
 motions

Gen. 19
#18

Gen. 43-48
Thursday
 contests

Gen.
21:1-8
#19
Bible
drill
Friday
 test

Gen.
22:1-18
#20

Journals
Gen. 4950, Ex. 1-3
Ex. 4-8
Mom’s Notes:
Memory Verse:
“Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous
God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of
them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my
commandments.” Exodus 20:5-6
Say the Books of the Bible:
Genesis
Joshua
Exodus
Judges
Leviticus
Ruth
Numbers
1 & 2 Samuel
Deuteronomy
1 & 2 Kings
1 & 2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalms
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Bible Drills:
Tuesday
 Isaiah 7:14
 Jeremiah 1:5
 Lamentations 1:1
 Ezekiel 7:26
 Daniel 1:8
 Isaiah 53:6
 Jeremiah 23:24
 Lamentations 1:18
 Ezekiel 12:25
 Daniel 4:37
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Thursday
 Isaiah 6:8
 Proverbs 11:4
 Nehemiah 13:11
 Leviticus 27:30
 1 Samuel 15:22
 1 Kings 17:24
 Ezra 9:13
 Psalm 14:1
 Ecclesiastes 12:1
 Deuteronomy 4:2
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Week 4 - Notes:
Activities:
Monday –
 Discuss God’s promises in Genesis 17. Why was Abram’s name changed?
 What did God command Abraham and all his seed after him to do? (See Genesis 17:914.)
Tuesday –
 How many requests did Abraham make of God? Compare with Hebrews 4:16, Luke
11:9, and 1 John 5:14-15.
Wednesday –
 Add these cities to your map.
Thursday –
 Compare how Abraham treated his two sons with how God treated each one. Through
which son would God fulfill His promises from Genesis 12:1-3?
Friday –
 Look up “Jehovah-jireh” (Genesis 22:14) in a Bible dictionary.
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Appendix A: Tips for Bible Memory
Our tips for memorizing verses each day are based on the following principles:
1. It’s easier to memorize a verse if you know what it means. That’s why we spend the
first day of each week talking about what the verse means. Your children will illustrate the
verse also, so you’ll know from their pictures if they truly understand it.
2. It’s easier to memorize a verse if the verse is meaningful to you. Your job as mom is to
help your children relate the verse to their own lives. What promise does it make, what
advice should they follow, what sin will it help them overcome? Try to talk about the verse
at other times during the day. Ask the Holy Spirit to apply it to all of your lives.
3. It’s easier to memorize a verse if you use many of your senses to learn it. We use our
eyes when we look at a verse visual, we use our arms and legs when we make up motions,
we use our ears when we hear each other saying it together, and occasionally a verse is just
the right kind to taste or smell something.
4. It’s easier to memorize a verse if you repeat it many, many times. That’s why you
should make it your goal to have everyone say the verse out loud at least five times each
day. We’ll help you come up with ways to keep it from being boring, but you can always
try shouting, whispering, singing, standing, marching, lying down, writing, drawing, telling
it to Dad, and calling Grandma.
5. It’s easier to memorize a verse if you say it with a “sing-songy” voice. Kids love this!
For instance, try saying this verse, emphasizing the italicized words:
Psalm One-nineteen Eleven
Thy word have I hid in my heart,
That I might not sin against thee.
Psalm One-nineteen Eleven
Each day, recite the verse (including reference) as a group five times. As the week progresses,
allow the children to say it more and more without dependence on your voice, until they can say it
independently on Friday.
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If you’re learning an extended passage of Scripture over many weeks, try to say the entire passage
you’ve learned thus far at least once a day. For instance, if you’re learning Psalm 1 (weeks 13-18),
during week 16, you’ll say Psalm 1:1-4 once a day.
Before the week starts, take a moment to write the verse (using a Sharpie marker) on a spiral-bound
set of 3x5 index cards. You will use this set of verses to in coming weeks.
As a general rule, we’ll stick to the following schedule:
Monday – Discuss what a verse means and illustrate it. Give your children sheets of card stock (for
durability), and ask them to illustrate the verse. Later, you can use these drawings to review
verses you’ve already memorized.
Tuesday – Write the verse. For primary children, you may give them worksheets from Appendix
B. Preschool children will not write the verse, but you may want to have them point to letters or
numbers in the verse. Save all written work on a clipboard or in Junior or Middler’s notebooks.
Wednesday – Make up motions. Obviously, some verses will be easier to come up with motions
for than others, but you’ll be surprised how creative your kids can be! You’ll probably notice
that they will use motions when they say it the rest of the week as well. That’s fine. Note: If it
seems impossible to come up with motions, try stomping your feet in rhythm, clapping, or
marching around the kitchen table as you say it – anything to get you up and moving!
Thursday – By now your kids should have nearly memorized the verse. Today is a good day for
contests. “Everyone with blue eyes, say the verse.” “Everyone wearing green, say the verse.”
Boys against girls, Primaries against Juniors, etc.
Friday – Today, after saying the verse several times as a group, have each child say it individually.
I often start with the oldest child so that the youngest ones can hear it a few more times. I also
“help” the younger ones more than I do the older ones, who I expect to say it perfectly. You
may wish to have a “verse recital” on Friday evenings at supper, where the kids can show Dad
how well they’ve learned it and exhibit their drawings and writings. Make it memorable!
All of the above hints are helpful for other types of memorization as well, such as the Books of the
Bible, or memory work in other subjects.
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Other Titles in This Series:
Foundations 2: Christ Our Messiah
Foundations 3: Christ Our Hope
Other Curriculum by Anne Elliott:
Foundations of World History:
From Ancient Times: Creation to Assyria
Daniel’s Statue: Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome
Seals and Trumpets: The Middle Ages
The End of Days: Reformation to Modern Times
Homeschool P.E. (for the P.E. Challenged Mom)
Other Titles by Anne Elliott:
The Four Foundations of Lifelong Learning: Preparing Your Little Ones for School
The Homeschool How-To Series:
Biblical Home Education
The Organized Homeschool
Just Tell Me What to Order
Blessed to Be a Blessing: The Mystery of Why God Chose You (a study of the book of Ephesians)
Juggling Life’s Responsibilities: Biblical Help for the Married Woman
The Too Tired Series:
Why Am I So Tired? (and What to Do About It)
What to Eat to Beat Fatigue
How to Get a Good Night’s Sleep
Help Me with My Hormones
Time Management for Tired Women
Sick and Tired
Financial Fatigue
To Exercise or Not (That Is the Question)
Available at Foundations Press
http://foundationspress.com
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